Tanis Grif asked: "Did anyone mention soil tests? I wonder how much of the
vigorous growth/ regrowth
might be from soil too fertile for best performance?"
Tanis,
Good that you asked that. My Illinois Everbearing grows 4' per year and
could well be responding to excess fertilizer. When I get my soil tests
back, I mix fertilizer for optimal raspberry production and nearly
everything gets the same mixture. What is best for raspberries is excessive
for trees and insufficient for vegetables. I say "nearly everything"
because acid-loving plants get a different mixture as do troubled areas that
need an upgrade. The only problem with excessive fertilizer has affected
peaches which tend to not want to harden off early enough in the Fall
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]
[NAFEX] IL Everbearing and Soil Tests,
Jim Fruth, 10/08/2007